Broward County school news

August 30, 2012

The Four Finger Policy

Stoneman Douglas High started the year with a mandatory assembly for each grade on the Code of Conduct. The school's second-year principal made it clear that he was taking no nonsense for the slightest violations in the Code of Conduct. To ensure students' safety and maximum education privileges for all, new classroom rules have been instituted where you raise your hand with either one, two, three or four fingers if you don't understand at all, somewhat understand but need assistance, understand with clarification or completely understand, respectively. – Olayinka Elebute, Douglas

Annual showdown set

Taravella's annual black-and-white game against Coral Glades High is Aug. 31, with kickoff at 7 p.m. Taravella wears all white, Coral Glades wears all black, and the principal of the losing school usually has do something embarrassing, such as roll around in mud. Taravella celebrates the event all day with music and lunchtime festivities. – Lauren Dalrymple, JP Taravella

Students Compete in Olympics

Two Sagemont School student-athletes, senior Jemal Le Grand and junior Daniella Van Den Berg, competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics for Aruba. Le Grand had the honor of holding the flag for Aruba in the opening ceremonies and swam in the 100-meter freestyle. Van Den Berg swam in the 800-meter freestyle. – Lauren Miller, The Sagemont School

Glades gets new leader

Coral Glades High has a new sheriff in town: Principal Stephen Carruth. Carruth has taken over for Michael Ramirez, who was promoted to a district position this summer. Carruth is a major supporter of the arts and is expected to uphold the school's rigorous standards for excellence. – Laura Salgado, Coral Glades

Olympian visits St. Thomas

Volleyball star and St. Thomas Aquinas alumnus Faluke Akinradewo paid a visit to her former stomping ground on Aug. 22. Akinradewo won a silver medal while playing for the USA volleyball team at the London Olympics. After making an appearance in the school cafeteria, Faluke said, "I'm really proud to be an STA Raider. You guys have no idea how amazing this school is." Students dropped their sandwiches and scrambled to take a picture with the Olympian, who towered over most of the teens at 6-feet, 3-inches tall. Akinradewo is one of six former STA alumni who competed in London this year, including Bradley Ally, Vlad Polyakov, Kirsten Nieuwendam, Sanya Richards-Ross and Sarah Lihan.

– Amanda Hoffman, St. Thomas

What a welcome

What better way to welcome a group of students than with a water slide, food and beautiful weather? The Cardinal Gibbons Senior Class of 2013 hosted a picnic recently to greet the incoming freshman class. Among the many activities at the event were relay races, a Chick-Fil-A food booth and a three-story waterside. Despite the seniors' surprise water balloon attack on the freshmen, the picnic was a blast. The annual Senior/Freshman Picnic is one of the school's most celebrated traditions. – Keenan Bailey, Cardinal Gibbons

Film festival planned

Calvary Christian Academy's annual Film Festival, set for Friday, Sept. 7, allows students from the Digital Video elective classes to display their talents in videography, filmmaking and acting. The Film Festival will be showcased in the CCA Theater beginning at 7 p.m. Entry is $5 per person. – Alexandra Gomez, Calvary Christian Academy

Baking for funds

The St. Thomas Aquinas Model United Nations Team is beginning a series of Tuesday morning "International Bake Sales" with a variety of foreign foods to raise money for its upcoming trip to Chicago. The team will offer biscotti, churros, espresso and a variety of other delicious foreign treats each week, starting in September. – Victor DeBianchi, St. Thomas Aquinas